“Portrait of Valparaiso” was a VPS intervention done in the Port of Valparaiso in 2014. After a particular hardship for the community that year; they suffered a devastating fire in the hills destroying many homes and lively hoods. VPS approached the local community interviewing over a hundred people of different backgrounds and walks of life, with questions of emotional content but not necessarily involving the fire.

Who do you admire most?

How would you like to be remembered by your loved ones?

What was the happiest moment of your life?

How were you called when you were a kid? 

Selected answers of these questions were animated and projected around the main commercial areas, the hills and the harbour with its cargo ships in peak times of the weekend. 

The goal of this intervention was to show in the urban space of this port, portraits of the less seen inhabitants so that the other locals and the visiting masses saw a snapshot of how their peers see everyday life. The city found their party areas and touristic attractions all covered up with strong common life phrases that animated themselves generating a sharp/funny/crude diagnose of real “Valpo” locals.